Big Shot Box and Accordion Fold

I have to admit, I didn't buy the Big Shot die cut machine right away, not being sure if I'd actually use it. After seeing countless beautiful projects made with it though, I decided to order it and see what all the fuss was about. Well, am I ever in love with this machine! Look at this cute little box I made using the Top Notes Bigz die and some chipboard! This is a project I did with my stamp clubs a couple of months ago. It was easy and it took no time at all!






The other project we did was this card, using the accordion fold technique. This one took a little practice, but is so worth it! I found it was much easier if you use designer paper instead of cardstock, but just be careful you don't push too hard when scoring each fold!

Big Shot Price Increase

Do you have your Big Shot yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Until June 30th, the Big Shot is only $118.95 (item #113439). After July 1st with the new catalog, the price increases to $132.95! So if you have been thinking about buyng the Big Shot do it today and save yourself $14 plus the tax and shipping savings.

Order by June 25th and I will include a FREE Daisies #2 bigz die, item # 114520, $23.95 or any other die priced $25.95 or less.

And there will not be a Big Shot Starter kit in the next catalogue so you can save even more by ordering the kit.

Big Shot Starter Kit, #116314, $232.95 includes the machine, Top Note and Scallop Envelope dies, Birds & Blooms sizzlits, Billboard decorative strip and decorative strip cutting pads and extended spacer platform. A value of $245.20 if purchased separately. Add the Doctor’s bag for $308.95.

For a quick video to see how the Big Shot works and what it can do for you, click on this link here!

Wild About This Stamp Set!

Check this out! This stamp set, "Wild About You" is my favorite set to use for baby cards, children's cards and children's decor (see the frame I did for my son's room!). This time I used it to make this cute spinner card for a birthday party my daughter went to. I think it turned out well, don't you? It was a very easy card to make, and fun too. I loved popping up parts of the animals, and who doesn't love a spinner card?

Have you had a look at the Stampin' Up retirement list yet? Well, I'm sad to say that this stamp set is on that list! If you haven't had a chance to see the list yet, click the link here! Some great favorites are on that list, but they do need to make room for all the amazing new sets in the upcoming catalog! These retiring sets are only available until June 30th. If you have a list ready, hop on over to http://www.sherivanhooren.stampinup.net/ to place your online order today! Online orders are so easy, and convenient too! Your order will be shipped directly to your door!

Wow - it's already April, and this is only my first post of 2009! I sure have been delinquint with this blog lately, but have been understandably busy over the past while. I was reading my previous posts for 2008, and realized that my last one of that year was posted one day after my due date, and 4 days before I gave birth to my second child - a son! Nathan Scott Van Hooren joined us September 21st, looking just like his grandpa. Later that day though he started to change (already!) and looked quite a bit like his older sister, Kaitlyn. I now have a few pictures of him in the same sleepers his sister wore, and 20 years from now will not be able to tell them which of them is in those pictures! Thankfully I have them logged on cd and on computer so I can keep track... One day I will actually scrapbook them!

Well, 2 days before Nathan's arrival, I couldn't sit still, so I made another project for his room. Here is a picture of it:
I used a frame from Creative Memories (love these frames!), stamped the animals from the Wild About You stamp set, and went to town. This frame is now hung above my son's crib, and I smile every time I look at it. I'm still thinking that I will put his name at the bottom, overtop of the scallops and ribbon. I had left it blank since I didn't know if I was having a boy or girl at the time. Just one more thing to do though, and since this project is already hanging, I'm not sure it will find it's way back down to my craft room any time soon. Too many other projects in the works!

Here it is over Nathan's crib:


















And here are a couple of other pictures of his room, before we brought him home (which is why it's so clean and organized!).

I also made the jungle blanket; my first attempt at sewing! Instead of getting the "nesting instinct", I got this huge surge of creativity and urge to do anything crafty. It paid off though, I think! You can see Nathan's ultrasound picture on the dresser in this picture; I framed that one actually for my daughter's room, and framed one of her for his room, but every other day Kaitlyn would switch them around. I thought it would be nice for her to have a picture of him, so it would maybe feel more real for her while he was still growing inside; I also wanted her to know that her unborn sibling would love her too, and would want a picture of her close by. I think she really liked the picture of herself though (it is a cute one!), so she kept switching them back and forth. Oh well, it was the thought that counts, right? ;)

My First Decore Elements!

With the arrival of my new addition close at hand, I wanted to make some things for his/her room. When I got my copy of Stampin' Up's new Decore Elements brochure in July, I loved the ideas, and couldn't wait to try them out! I decided to start small, so I ordered the small Lollipop Flower. I thought it would look great in a child's room! Off I went to Michael's to get a frame, and came back with one measuing 12x18. I haven't used much chipboard before either, so I decided to try that out too, with some inspiration from the "Home" project on the cover of the DE brochure.

To make the "lollipop's" different colors, I simply punched out 1 1/4" circles and placed them behind the glass, after applying the DE to the front of the glass. The "SWEET" letters are also in front of the glass, while papers and ribbon are behind it.

This is a picture of it hung up in the nursery. A few more things need to be added to the walls, but overall I think this project made a great addition to the baby's room!

Baby Shower Fun

I threw a shower for my sister-in-law the day after her due date (I took a chance, I know!). She had 9 family members coming in from Ontario that weekend including her mom, so I wanted to make sure to include them. I figured if she had the baby early, then baby would be there for the fun, and if not, the shower would be a good distraction while she waits for his/her arrival. I wanted a surprise shower, so asked my brother for all the emails and phone numbers, and planned with him very carefully. It was a huge success! She had no idea, and was very happy. She didn't think anyone would throw a shower for her, and was kind of sad - but there was NO way I was letting her get away without a shower! I had so much fun planning; our little ones will be about 6 weeks apart (mine has yet to arrive - due date: today!), so it's not like I didn't have a lot of other things to do. I think I was avoiding those things though, so made myself busy planning her gift, the games we'd play, the prizes they'd win, party favors and food. Whew!

In this picture you can see the party favors I made: little Kit Kat's wrapped with designer paper, with a little rattle attached to a pink elephant (my sister-in-law knew she was having a baby girl). Also in the picture is my gift to her: a fuzzy bin filled with homemade blankets, clothes, breastfeeding supplies, etc. I had intended to wrap it very simply in some cello wrap, but discovered (about an hour before I needed to leave!) that I didn't have enough! So, I stuffed it with pink tissue paper, and made a chipboard flower to peek out of it!

How can you help but have a tonne of fun planning one of these parties; you don't need to spend a lot to be successful, and having the internet to browse for ideas is a life-saver! Thanks to everyone who has posted their baby shower ideas to the internet - there were so many great ideas; it made my task so much easier!

Oh Baby!!!

Well, this year we've had it pretty easy as far as being invited to weddings goes. We had one in Kelowna, and as far as I know, that's the one and only this year! When the subject changes to babies, well, that's another story! There seems to be a HUGE baby boom over the last few years, and this year is no exception. Including mine (coming in September), I know of at least 6 babies being born (or already here!) this year! Not to mention the 3 or 4 I already know of for next year! Well, one thing's for sure, my newest little one won't be lonely! :)

The newest arrival came about 3 weeks ago; a little girl to my good friends Anita and Joel. I have been so excited to meet their new addition, and I wanted to have a special card for the occasion. I've seen some diaper shirt cards come up on Splitcoast once in awhile, and always thought I'd love to try one out. Well, here's my attempt! For my first time making one of these, it was surprisingly fast and easy - only took me about 35 minutes! Even my husband was surprised at how fast I was done. Now that I've done one though, others would only take me about 10 minutes - a very fast, cute card!

This card is done on Whisper White cardstock, with Pretty In Pink accents. It measures 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 (a regular card), after cutting an 8 1/2 x 11 piece in half lengthwise (measuring 4 1/4 x 11). Fold in half, and use your 1 3/8" or 1 1/4" circle punch to punch out the legs (insert cs on each end so that it makes a right angle, and the point or corner touches the other side of the punch. make sense?) Then use your scallop punch to make the bottom "leg" accents, and add some brads or buttons to the bottom. For the top, use the same circle and scallop punch for the "neck". To make the sleeves, I used my paper cutter and cut into each side 3/4", then cut down from each inner cut to the outside of the "legs". I'm fairly comfortable with my cutter, but I know some people who would prefer to use their hobby blade for this step. Now for the hardest part of the card - choosing the stamp to go in the middle of your shirt! No kidding - I spent most of my time deciding which image to choose... Gotta love a card this easy!

Now that I've made one, I'm addicted and can see myself making a tonne of these! If the directions above aren't clear enough, or you just have a couple questions, please let me know. I'll try to remember to take some pictures while I'm making the next one, and post a little tutorial for it. :)

Congrats to all the new moms and moms - to - be out there - there sure are a lot of us! :)